Whether it’s the illicit affair between Scandal’sOlivia and Fitz or the steady romance between Castle’s Rick and Kate, the list of contenders in the running to become official nominees in the On-Screen Chemistry category have two very important things in common: plenty of sparks, and loads of shippers.

Below, we look at the TV couples—like New Girl’s Jess and Nick, How I Met Your Mother’s Barney and Robin, and Glee’s Kurt and Blaine (to name just a few)—who are heating up the small-screen, and the notable non-couples—such as Arrow’s Oliver and Felicity or Elementary’s Holmes and Watson—who are still firmly in the will-they-won’t-they-phase (but leaning towards the will, of course).

Check out the list and make sure to vote for your top 5 On-Screen Chemistry pre-nominees here. Voting for this round closes on Oct. 31.

Alicia & Will on The Good Wife

Good riddance, professional behavior! Alicia (Julianna Margulies) and Will (Josh Charles) had quite a few close encounters before they finally let go of their inhibitions during a late night in the office in season 1. The result? A long-awaited kiss, that left them (and us) longing for more.

Barney and Robin on How I Met Your Mother
Though we still don’t know if Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Robin (Cobie Smulders) will actually make it down the altar in How I Met Your Mother’s final season, we do know that their romance thus far has been legen…wait for it…dary.

Booth & Brennan on Bones

While Barney and Robin are still in limbo, Booth (David Boreanaz) and Brennan (Emily Deschanel) certainly are not. After years of working together (and secretly harboring feelings for each other), the duo finally tied the knot this season. Though the ceremony was undoubtedly romantic, Booth and Bones have always been at their steamiest best while undercover, like when they had to infiltrate a ballroom dancing competition.

In true Castle fashion, Rick (Nathan Fillion) and Kate’s (Stana Katic) morning after hook-up scene in season 5 is as sultry as it is funny. Kate may be Rick’s fiance now, but we’re still hoping she has to sneak out of his house every once in awhile (if only so we can get more scenes like this one).

Damon and Elena on The Vampire Diaries
Though these two have quite a few steamy moments as of late, the sparks were flying long before they ever became a couple. Case in point? This scene from season 1, that finds Damon (Ian Somerhalder) stepping in as Elena’s (Nina Dobrev) dance partner. If nothing else, they’ve certainly got a shot at Favorite On-Screen Eye Lock (and no, that’s not a thing, but maybe it should be…).

Derek & Meredith, on Grey’s Anatomy

Derek (Patrick Dempsey) and Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) have been through almost as many near-death experiences as they have break-ups. Though we’re relieved he ultimately loved, chose, and picked her, (not to mention, survived all the gun shot wounds & plane crashes along the way), we have to admit that our favorite Der-Mer moments are also some of their angstiest.

Emma & Hook on Once Upon a Time

While we don’t know if Emma (Jennifer Morrison) and Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) will ever get their happily-ever-after, their love-hate relationship is enough to keep us entertained for now. (The swordplay scenes don’t hurt either.)

Holmes & Watson on Elementary

Elementary producer exec producer Rob Doherty has said time and time again that he wants Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) & Watson (Lucy Liu) to remain friends, so why are they still on this list? Because after repeated questions from fans and reporters alike, even he had to concede that a romance isn’t completely off the table. In other words, it’s going to be awhile before these two become more than partners-in-crime. In the meantime, enjoy their meet-cute below.

NEXT: Jess & Nick, Kurt & Blaine, Oliver & Felicity and more…

Jess & Nick on New Girl

New Girl’s Nick (Jake Johnson) and Jess (Zooey Deschanel) are easily one of the quirkiest couples on TV (she likes making weird voices, he has authored a zombie book), but they’re also one of the funniest. On the one hand, we never expected the two roommates to get together so quickly, but then we watch their first few kisses again, and we wonder…what took so long?

Kurt & Blaine on Glee

We loved Blaine’s (Darren Criss) extra special (and spectacularly over-the-top) proposal to Kurt (Chris Colfer), but it was his emotional speech at the end that really cinched a “yes” from us.

Oliver & Felicity on Arrow

He’s the brooding superhero, and she’s the awkward IT girl, and yet these two uncommon characters have sparks in spades. Though Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) started out as a minor supporting character, her interaction with Oliver (Stephen Amell) generated so much excitement amongst fans that producers quickly promoted her to a regular. Since then they’ve crashed through glass windows, and saved each other from near-certain doom. They’ve also had a whole lot of fun, flustered moments (okay fine, maybe that’s all Felicity), see below:

NEXT: Olivia & Fitz, Sheldon & Penny, Tony & Ziva and more…

Olivia & Fitz on Scandal

Olivia (Kerry Washington) may be D.C.’s go-to fixer, but her relationship with Fitz (Tony Goldywyn) is anything but handled. The two just can’t seem to stay away from each other — and that’s exactly how we like it. Watch the clip below to see what we mean.

Sheldon & Penny on The Big Bang Theory

They may be dating other people, but Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Penny (Kaley Cuoco) continue to grow closer on The Big Bang Theory. From trading secrets to some, um, inappropriate touching, we can’t help but wonder whether this unique friendship will ultimately spurn an equally unique romance. (Though showrunner Steve Molaro has said the two probably won’t be falling for each other anytime soon, he has also confessed that he loves that fans are rooting for the them to get together.) While Sheldon and Penny haveshared a kiss (albeit it wasn’t very romantic), it’s this unexpected hug that ranks as their sweetest moment:

Tony & Ziva on NCIS

Their long awaited first kiss was followed up by a bittersweet goodbye, but it still ranks as one of the best moments on the series.

Vincent & Catherine on Beauty and the Beast

Vincent (Jay Ryan) may not have been able to remember Catherine (Kristin Kreuk) this season, but fans can’t seem to forget their epic romance. From stolen kisses to swoon-worthy dances, VinCat’s relationship is anything but beastly.

Want to take a deeper dive into On-Screen Chemistry? We asked fans a few months ago to weigh in on what makes great On-Screen Chemistry. Check out what they had to say. (Note: The comments were not used to select official pre-nominees.)

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I’m surprised that Dean and Castiel aren’t listed here. I probably shouldn’t be, I mean, how could I expect any different? But I am.

I guess I wrongly assumed that People’s Choice would note the majority and be brave enough to include an unconfirmed, non-hetero pairing in their unvaried mix. It is, after all, clearly more than friendship to many. Ah, well. Let’s hope we can prove them wrong by winning for Destiel.

I love Dean & Castiel but I’m thinking this category is for romantic on-screen chemistry, so they’re out. I adore MerDer, Olivia & Fitz, Ziva (sniff sniff), Booth & Brennan & Delena but the couple which causes my heart to be a flutter every time they’re on-screen is Caskett. Nathan & Stana just have the IT factor. I haven’t seen chemistry like theirs on TV in YEARS! Beckett adores her goober BF so much it’s too cute!! So, Castle & Beckett deserve this one IMO.

While the video of Captain Swan’s innuendo and chemistry filled sword fight is one of my favorite moments, the kiss the two of them shared in the latest episode was the steamiest thing to come to the OUAT universe (I wish that was the video that was posted). Emma and Hook are so much more than a love/hate relationship. They’re two kindred spirits who understand one another on several levels. While I love several of the ships on this list, Captain Swan definitely gets my vote when it comes to on-screen chemistry. Jennifer Morrison and Colin O’Donoghue play off one another so well and I can’t wait to see where their story goes!

Why aren’t Dean and Castiel on here? They got like 3/4ths of the chemistry prelim votes but didn’t wind up on the official voting roster. Why? Honestly why? Also, Dean and Cas needn’t even be considered a ‘gay’ couple. If you get down to it, Cas is a multidimensional celestial wave form.

People need to stop it with the Dean/Cas campaigning, like it’s ever going to be possible canon. Read the text up top, this category is for couples that are together or actually have a chance.

Dean and Charlie have great chemistry, but you wouldn’t campaign for them in this category because she’s a lesbian. Dean’s a straight guy, so putting him in this category with another guy would be dumb.

For me some of the best on screen chemistry should go to Auggie and Annie (Chris Gorham and Piper Perabo)(Covert Affairs) they say so much with one look and the small gestures and sexy moments are too powerful to miss.

Where is Dean & Castiel? They should be on here; they’ve got so many great moments! For example, when Cas confided to Dean (a human who, at that time, he hadn’t known very long) that he wasn’t Heaven’s hammer and did have questions and doubtsWhen Dean convinced Castiel to rebel against Heaven and give up everything to help him (pretty much a death sentence). When Cas stayed to fight off the archangel Raphael, getting killed in the process, so that Dean could try and stop Sam. When Cas was killed by Lucifer just to give Dean 5 more minutes. When Dean asked Castiel to look him in the eye and say he wasn’t working with Crowley, and he couldn’t look him in the eye, and you could see Dean’s heart breaking. When Cas asked Dean to stand behind him, “the one time I ask,” and told him with almost teary eyes “I do everything you ask. I always come when you call, and I am your friend.” When Castiel, taken over by Leviathan, walked into the river, presumed dead, and Dean kept his trenchcoat, carrying it around in the trunk of stolen cars for almost a year. When Dean gave the trenchcoat back to Cas when he returned. When Dean spent nearly a year looking for Cas in purgatory, despite the fact that he could have simply found the exit and left Cas, and he prayed to Cas every night. When Dean reunited with Cas in purgatory, told him he needed him and that he wasn’t leaving purgatory without Cas. When Cas told Dean that he’d left him alone in purgatory to keep the leviathan away from Dean, drawing them to himself instead. When Castiel deliberately pulled away at the portal and Dean created a false memory because he couldn’t bear the thought of Cas leaving him again and wanting to stay. When Dean felt “like hell, for failing you. For failing you like I failed every other godforsaken thing that I care about.” When Dean told Cas “talk to me,” when he could tell something was bothering Cas, despite the fact that Dean does not like to talk about feelings. When Dean told Cas “I need you,” on his knees, bloody and at the mercy of Cas, and that broke Cas free of his mind control. When Dean prayed to Cas in a church, with tears in his eyes, because Same was dying and he needed Cas to be there with him, not to heal Sam (Cas had already said he couldn’t heal Sam), but as support, and told Cas he forgave him and that “we’ll work it out.” When a newly human Cas was killed and Dean cupped his face, voice breaking as he called his name. When Ezekiel brought Cas back to life, and Dean, relieved, told Cas to never do that again, to which Cas immediately agreed without even knowing what Dean was referring to.

Not to mention many other moments. So please, write in “Dean & Castiel” (exactly like that, without the quotation marks)! We’ve won every poll this year, now is not the time for us to lose! Now, more than ever, we need to pull our efforts together and win this for our boys! Because Cas and Dean deserve it, and Misha and Jensen deserve it, for their amazing talent! Vote for our profound bond!

All great couples and non-couples with great chemistry listed here, but you missed my favorite on-screem chemistry pair and that is Dean & Castiel from Supernatural. Their scenes positively sizzle with chemistry and it is a shame that the PCAs didn’t include them as potential nominees on the list, but I hope that the many people that I’ve seen including them as write-in nominees can rectify that mistake and get them nominated.

The Klaine proposal is the best thing, that speech, good lord, that speech, delivered in such a heartfelt way. Kurt’s face when he says yes. And uhh, that kiss. Legendary couple, no doubt about it, brought to life by two great actors. Thanks for including them, they mean so much to so many.